Bristol Early Music Festival

11/05/2026

And that’s it from the Festival for this year! We had a glorious final concert from South West Baroque Orchestra and the Festival Chorus, superbly conducted by Andrea Brown. Dies Irae by Lully was a real spine-tingler.

We’ll be in touch about next year’s one-day event. Thank you to all our performers and participants!

10/05/2026

Look at all the baroque dancers!

The last workshop of the Festival is led by Philippa Waite, introducing participants to the dances of Thomas Bray, 1699.

10/05/2026

Looking forward to welcoming the South West Baroque Orchestra to the festival this afternoon!

A reminder that Bristol Centre is closed for the Marathon. If you’re coming to Clifton from south of Bristol, use the Ring Road and or M5 to get north of the city.

https://cdn.greatrun.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AJBell_GBris_HM_Route_2026.pdf

09/05/2026

Wow, what a stunning conclusion to our Saturday programme!

Chelys with Fair Oriana presented a musical menagerie of animal songs from the 16th and 17th centuries: witty, sometimes silly, sometimes heartrending. Gorgeous singing, shimmering viols.

Thank you for a wonderful performance!

09/05/2026

Many smiling faces at the Festival today!

Thanks to Annabel Knight for a recorder workshop which gave food for thought to beginners and intermediate players.

Leah Stuttard and Jeremy Avis gave a mesmerising lunchtime concert: so lovely to welcome you back to All Saints.

And throughout the day the sounds of the Festival Choir have been resounding through the atrium.

08/05/2026

The Festival has begun!
A spellbinding performance this evening from the English Wind Consort, pictured here just before they processed into the church, and playing their encore.
Thank you for an amazing start to the Festival!

05/05/2026

Three days and counting!

Bristol Early Music Festival kicks off Friday evening.

Check out our gallery for snapshots of previous events.

04/05/2026

Countdown to the Festival!

The Bristol Early Music Festival has its home in All Saints Church Clifton, a venue with a fascinating history, amazing acoustics, and glorious stained glass.

There are still some tickets for concerts, but workshops are nearly full. Book now!

https://www.bristolearlymusicfestival.uk/programme

30/04/2026

The final concert of the Bristol Early Music Festival will bring together the newly formed Festival Chorus with our friends the South West Baroque Orchestra.

A Feast of French Baroque

The spiritual drama of Lully's Dies Irae, the reassurance of Sweelinck's setting of psalm 42 'Like as the Hart', and the operatic exuberance of the love story of Sémélé as told by Marin Marais in his orchestral suite from the opera.

The concert is conducted by the internationally renowned early music specialist Andrea Brown.

10 May 2026
17:00 – 18:30
All Saints Church

Booking here:

The flickering flames of hell, the soothing balm of cooling streams and a tragic love tale...

27/04/2026

Sunday afternoon at the Festival brings a workshop with a difference! Join Philippa Waite for an introduction to the dances of Thomas Bray, choreographer and dancer at a few of the London theatres.

Using a few typical dance steps, this workshop will focus on one or two of Bray's lovely dances published in 1699.

With their beautiful symmetrical patterns and the movement quality required to dance in the Baroque style, these dances are a great introduction to the wonderful world of Baroque dance.

No previous experience or partner required. Please wear comfortable clothing and flexible flat or low heeled shoes.

10 May 2026
14:00 – 15:45
All Saints Church

Booking here: https://www.bristolearlymusicfestival.uk/event-details/baroque-dance-workshop

http://www.ukbaroquedance.comA performance of Anthony L'Abbé's solo Passacaille to music by Jean-Baptiste Lully from the tragédie en musique "Armide" (1686)....